Cleveland Browns takeaways: Trouble at offensive tackle is even worse after Vikings game

CLEVELAND — The Browns were already in trouble at offensive tackle .

Then their 27-12 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in the second preseason game for both teams made matters worse.

The three players the Brown s have recently been using in training camp practices with the first-team offense while Jedrick Wills Jr. and Jack Conklin remain out after undergoing knee surgeries last year were injured against the Vikings .

They are …

• James Hudson III (ankle injury second quarter)
• Hakeem Adeniji (knee injury third quarter)
• Germain Ifedi (hand injury third quarter)

None of those tackles returned to the game. And Adeniji left the Cleveland Browns Stadium on crutches with a brace on his right leg.

“These are all things that we’ll get tests on,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said of the injuries during his postgame news conference without providing any more of an elaborate update.

When Stefanski was asked whether he expects Wills or Conklin back in time for the Sept. 8 regular-season opener against the Dallas Cowboys, the coach was noncommittal.

Right now, the only starting-caliber offensive tackle the Browns have healthy is right tackle Dawand Jones.

On Saturday, Jones and other Browns starters sat out.

And the Browns turned to undrafted rookie Lorenzo Thompson at left tackle and Roy Mbaeteka at right tackle after Hudson, Adeniji and Ifedi were sidelined.

Browns vs Vikings: Cleveland falls to Minnesota in NFL preseason action; injuries hit hard

This position group is simply a banged-up mess. In case you didn't know, the Cowboys have elite pass rusher Micah Parsons, so sound the alarm.

If the Browns learned anything during their joint practices Wednesday and Thursday with the Vikings, it's the offensive line's woes are real and concerning.

It's hard to envision starting quarterback Deshaun Watson staying healthy unless the tackle situation is addressed either by the return of Wills or Conklin or a trade General Manager Andrew Berry should be exploring by now.

Unless, unless, unless … it's time to dust off the old “Plan Z” by bumping six-time Pro Bowl left guard Joel Bitonio to left tackle, where he played and excelled amid COVID-19 chaos.

It would not be ideal for Bitonio or the Browns, yet you know what they say about desperate times.

On Thursday, Bitonio was asked about the possibility of moonlighting at left tackle again.

"I think it's plan double Z, but you never know," he said.

Other takeaways from the second preseason game ...

DTR vs. Tyler Huntley in preseason game No. 2

If Dorian Thompson-Robinson entered Saturdays' preseason game in the driver's seat for the No. 3 quarterback job, he should still be there because Tyler Huntley didn't do anything to supplant DTR.

Thompson-Robinson started and played the first half, followed by Huntley for the whole second half.

Thompson-Robinson went 13-of-17 passing (76.5%) for 126 yards without a touchdown pass and with an interception. His passer rating was 72.2. He took one sack.

Huntley went 14-of-20 passing (70%) for 135 yards without a touchdown pass and with two interceptions. His passer rating was 49. He rushed four times for 19 yards and took two sacks.

With the three picks, the Browns lost the turnover battle 3-0. Huntley's first interception proved costly because Adeniji suffered his injury while helping Huntley knock cornerback Dwight McGlothern out of bounds during a 90-yard return.

“Some good and some bad, and that’s where that constant desire for our quarterbacks is to operate consistently,” Stefanski said. “I thought there were some really good moments and then some things you can definitely learn from with those two players.”

The positive with Thompson-Robinson is he led the Browns on an eight-play, 69-yard touchdown drive during their first possession.

On fourth-and-2 at the Minnesota 44-yard line, DTR connected with rookie wide receiver Jamari Thrash for a 15-yard gain. Then a 28-yard pass interference penalty Vikings safety Bobby McCain committed while covering fullback Giovanni Ricci in the end zone set up running back D'Onta Foreman's 1-yard rushing TD.

On the negative side, DTR threw behind Thrash later in the game, the ball deflected off Thrash and Vikings safety Lewis Cine intercepted it with 20 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

DTR conceded he threw “a bad ball.” Now he's determined to get back to work.

A major hip injury Thompson-Robinson suffered last season combined with poor performances as a rookie fifth-round draft pick likely influenced the Browns to acquire Huntley this offseason as DTR insurance, even if Berry wouldn't admit it publicly.

But DTR has had a good training camp — certainly one stronger than his outing Saturday would suggest.

“I'm out here trying to win the game. I'm not out here trying to win a job,” Thompson-Robinson said. “Like I said, I want some throws back today that I'll be able to see on tape on Monday with Coach. I'm going to expect an earful from him. Other than that, though, I'm out here trying to win the game and not really worried about the job.”

DTR has the right attitude, and it might be a a reason why he's still the favorite to backup Watson and No. 2 quarterback Jameis Winston. In a perfect world for the Browns, they would be able to honestly say DTR won the No. 3 job and find a trade partner for Huntley.

Cleveland Browns injury updates and notes on Denzel Ward, Amari Cooper, David Njoku, Dustin Hopkins

Stefanski said the following about key injuries:

• Browns three-time Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward remains in concussion protocol.
• Wide receiver Amari Cooper and tight end David Njoku are “rehabbing” after suffering undisclosed injuries in Thursday's joint practice.
• Kicker Dustin Hopkins is working through an undisclosed injury, but he's expected to play in Week 1.

More Cleveland Browns news: D'Onta Foreman debuts with Browns 16 days after scary injury and his first helicopter ride

The next chapter in the Browns handling the new NFL kickoff rule

With Hopkins idle, Cade York has been handling the kicking duties this preseason and recently in training camp.

After the Aug. 10 preseason-opening loss to the Green Bay Packers, Stefanski confessed he was disappointed when York had two touchbacks on kickoffs because he wanted the Browns to practice their coverage with the NFL's new kickoff rules in place.

However, this time around, Stefanski said York was ordered to kick two touchbacks against the Vikings. Perhaps injuries hitting the Browns hard played a role.

“We got plenty of work [during the joint practices],” Stefanski said. “I think this week, both days on Wednesday and Thursday, we did kickoff, kickoff return.”

If an NFL team can avoid injuries in a preseason, it's a win regardless of what the scoreboard reads. The Browns lost on the injury front Saturday.

Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Browns takeaways: Trouble at offensive tackle is even worse after Vikings game